Removing Brown algae from leaves

This is a discussion on Removing Brown algae from leaves within the Beginner Planted Aquarium forums, part of the Beginner Freshwater Aquarium category; -->
Originally Posted by Byron
Carbon should not be used in planted tanks, there is no need. Except in an emergency to remove medications after ...

Carbon should not be used in planted tanks, there is no need. Except in an emergency to remove medications after treatment or similar. Carbon will remove substances the plants can handle, some of which are nutrients.

I would check the water data from the supply people to see if silicates show up.

This makes a good point, I've always used the cartridge refills that contain carbon. So should I just grab some filter floss and leave it empty?

This makes a good point, I've always used the cartridge refills that contain carbon. So should I just grab some filter floss and leave it empty?

Also I'm gonna call and ask the silicates level

More floss/pads/foam/sponge, whichever, to fill the filter is fine, or you can leave it empty. You just want to ensure the water is being forced through the media that is there, for mechanical filtration. I suppose you could also use ceramic disks in the empty chamber, depending how it is constructed.

More floss/pads/foam/sponge, whichever, to fill the filter is fine, or you can leave it empty. You just want to ensure the water is being forced through the media that is there, for mechanical filtration. I suppose you could also use ceramic disks in the empty chamber, depending how it is constructed.

Doesn't external filters use carbon in their media? Do people remove this aswell?

Alright I am way late to this thread but I wanted to share my experience here as I had this issue in one of my tanks. You already have the best of the best giving opinions here as well. Here is mine, I was getting this brown algae all over the leaves of my plants and it was actually choking some of them off. I tried rubbing it off and that worked to some degree but would come back. I will NOT be adding chemicals to my tank as the fish are the number one priority and I just think less is best in that area.

Your tank looks awesome by the way but I whole heartedly agree that floating plants are needed and once adding them, you will likely see a decrease in the brown algae on your plants. That worked for me. I also added more plants which I think helped as they were all busy sucking out the nutrients they needed and the brown algae was minimal at that point.

The other thing is that IF you have a filter pad in there that has been in the filter awhile, the carbon is likely no longer doing anything. The effects of that would only last a short time either way, right?

I will add a big + for the Otocinclus as well. 3 in a tank that size will do a wonderful job keeping things nice and clean without adding a huge bio load. In my opinion, they are very under rated fish. Just be sure it is Oto's and not Chinese algae eaters or Siamese algae eaters. They look similar but are very different little fish.

Your tank looks awesome by the way but I whole heartedly agree that floating plants are needed and once adding them, you will likely see a decrease in the brown algae on your plants. That worked for me. I also added more plants which I think helped as they were all busy sucking out the nutrients they needed and the brown algae was minimal at that point.

The other thing is that IF you have a filter pad in there that has been in the filter awhile, the carbon is likely no longer doing anything. The effects of that would only last a short time either way, right?

Yea the filter pad has been in there for a while so ur right.. but actually its been about 6 months, so its about that time to put a new one in.. i'll make sure on this last pack i have to cut out the carbon then after start using my own.

I will add a big + for the Otocinclus as well. 3 in a tank that size will do a wonderful job keeping things nice and clean without adding a huge bio load. In my opinion, they are very under rated fish. Just be sure it is Oto's and not Chinese algae eaters or Siamese algae eaters. They look similar but are very different little fish.

Yea, i'm gonna be picking a few up on the weekend. 3 might be pushing it with my stock. I wanna re home one of my Zebra danios as it is... I might just relocate both and either add a few more cherry barbs and 2 ottos or just add to my school of neons.

Just grabbed a few ottos.. I know they are schoaling fish and should be kept in 3 or more, but I grabbed two for now as I'm not sure how they will handle my hard water..

Unfortunately 1 jumped out the net when putting in the tank and landed on the floor.. I immediately dipped my hand in water then picked him up and threw in the tank hoping to not cause any damage.. Just to be on the safe side I dosed a small amount of Protective slime so hopefully lil man will be alright.

Just grabbed a few ottos.. I know they are schoaling fish and should be kept in 3 or more, but I grabbed two for now as I'm not sure how they will handle my hard water..

Unfortunately 1 jumped out the net when putting in the tank and landed on the floor.. I immediately dipped my hand in water then picked him up and threw in the tank hoping to not cause any damage.. Just to be on the safe side I dosed a small amount of Protective slime so hopefully lil man will be alright.

that happened to me only once and was the weirdest thing. It was when my nephew was getting his Guppies, he had 2 Red, 2 Blue and 2 Yellow. When we put them in the tank, I was counting, 2 Red, 2 Blue, 1 yellow... ? What? I said "where did the other yellow one go?" My nephew said "He is resting on the floor" Sure enough, it had jumped just as I looked away, never saw it go. The poor thing had been there for a couple minutes but I got it up in the tank and all was fine. Hopefully your little Oto will be as well. As things settle in for your fish, hopefully you will be able to add one more. They really do seem to need each other. Cute little fish and they stay pretty darn small. They are very very busy fish and I have added them to tanks that had quite a bit of algae on the glass (I left it knowing they were coming" and they got the glass all cleaned up in no time. Love em.

Nice addition on the floating plants. I am sure you will notice the fish more comfortably swimming about under the plants, especially as they fill in. Good job!

Are you adding any fertilizer? I use Seachem's comprehensive fertilizer 2 times a week but once is likely enough based on the amount of plants. I don't do CO2 either.

Yikes good thing ur Lil guy made it.. But it happens to all of us at some point.

Thanks, yea the fish seem more active then they were before.. They like to play in it.. I'm redoing the substrate this weekend and starting up my co2.

Yea I'm dosing Flourish Comp once a week and just started flourish Excell every other day

I do not recommend Excel. First, it will melt some plants (Vallisneria is one, also mosses do not tend to like it much). If overdosed it can harm and even kill fish [a thread earlier today lamented over this unfortunate fact], and one member mentioned that it caused serious irritation on his hand. It is a chemical, and I question its effect on fish. Just a caution.